The Core Values of Principals in School Management under Chinese Education Reform

Abstract

The values of principals in school management play a pivotal role in shaping school leadership, teacher behaviours, and student performance. However, research studies focusing on principals' values are relatively abundant in Western countries, yet still limited in the Chinese context. To fill this gap, this paper adopts a qualitative research approach to investigate the fundamental values of Chinese principals in leading and managing primary schools within the current education reform landscape. The findings reveal that the principals in the study emphasised nine core values: equity, fairness, openness, respect, empowerment, encouragement, recognition, trust, and democracy. These values were found to contribute to a positive school climate that promoted the growth of teachers, students, and the school. The results have significant implications for policy makers and principals in China, suggesting the necessity to foster ethical and relational skills among principals and to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of teacher leaders and teachers in school development.